Illustrations Of British Entomology; Or A Synopsis Of Indigenous Insects. Mandibulata Vol. I To Vii [With] Haustellata Vol. I To Iv [With] Supplement. Stephens, James Francis. Fine Illustrated And Antiquarian Entomology

Twelve vols. bound in five with 95 fine hand-coloured, copper engraved, plates. Royal 8vo. Hardback. All title pages and indexes present. Neat repair to three leaves, only very minor spotting o/w. contents fine. More recent quarter calf over marbled boards with gilt lettering and raised bands in most pleasing nr. fine condition. With fine hand-coloured plates by C.M. Curtis and J.O. Westwood. Stephens (1792-1852) was an English entomologist, naturalist and fellow of the Linnaen Society. ‘While at the University of Cambridge, the student Charles Darwin became an enthusiastic insect collector. He sent Stephens records of the rarer insects he had captured, and was delighted when ‘Illustrations of British Entomology’ gave him credit for capturing insects described in 33 entries, quoting his words in all but two of the cases. Darwin recalled in his autobiography ‘No poet ever felt more delight at seeing his first poem published than I did at seeing in Stephen's Illustrations of British Insects the magic words, 'captured by C. Darwin, Esq.’’